Machine for making link mesh.



A. G. PRATT.

MACHINE FOR MAKING LINK MESH.

APPLICATION FILED OCT 11 1913. 1,121 ,045.

Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 1 W/T/VESSE I l/Vl/E/VTUR ATTORNEYS THE NORRIS PETERS C0w FHOTOLITHO wAsmNrzroN, u r

A. G. PRATT.

MACHINE FOR MAKING LINK MESH.

APPLICATION TILED OUT. 11 1913. 1 1 21 ,045. Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

3 SHBETS SHBET Z.

W/T/VESStb' INVENTUR JQW W gg A TTORNEYS THE NORRIS PETERS (20.. PHOTO LITHQ. wAsHlNzroN. n. C

A. G. PRATT.

MACHINE FOR MAKING LINK MESH.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 11 1913.

1,121 ,045. Patented De0.v15,1914.

7 I ATTORNEYS 'HE MIRA-ls PETERS C0,, PHOTO-LITHIL. WASHINGTON, I) r UNITED STATES PATENT UEFICE.

ALPHONSO C. PRATT, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR MAKING LINK MESH.

Application filed October 11, 1913.

To attic/1.0m it may concern Be it known that I, ALri-ionso G. PRATT, a citizen of the United States, residing at illontclair, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for lilaking Link Mesh, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for use in making fabric consisting of a n'iultiplicity of metallic links, each meshing with two or more other links of the fabric.

One feature of the invention resides in the arrangement of the parts whereby the completed fabric is moved relatively to the linkat'orining members step by step, so as to present the proper points upon the fabric to the tools for the reception of new links. This mechanism is such that a piece of completed fabric is moved laterally in a straight line step-by-step while a row of'links is being added to the fabric and is then moved in a direction at rigl'it angles to the direction of its previous step-by-step movement a distance equal to one step, whereby it is positioned for receiving the first link of the next adjacent row. The step-by-step lateral movement of the fabric is thencontimled while another row of links is added to the fabric, the movement at this time being in the opposite direction from the direction of movement when the previous row of links was made.

Another feature of the inventionresides in the provision of means for making a particular kind of mesh in a machine of the typrabove referred to, in which the mesh, r the part thereof where the new links are being added. is held in a plane. This special form of mesh consists of a plurality of links of cruciform shape. each having its four ends interlinked with four rings, both the cruciform links and the rings being arranged in rows crosswise and lengthwise of the piece of fabric. A piece of mesh of this character is held with all of the links thereof lying in a plane and is moved step-by-step relatively to the devices employed in adding new links. These devices comprise means for feeding rings into positions adjacent to the completed mesh and means for feeding cruciform links to the mesh and causing their ends to engage three rings of the completed mesh and the one new ring. Preferably the rings and also the cruciform links Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

Serial No. 794,605.

are fed to the mesh in the form of continuous strips cut to the configurations approlink than the adjacent row of cruciform.-

pieces. To make mesh ofthis character with all of the rows of links complete, mechanism is provided for feeding two rings to the mesh when adding the first or last cruciform link of a row. times, but one ring will be fed to the mesh when adding a cruciform link.

These and other novel features of the invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanyin drawings, which 1 show the preferred embodiment of the invention and in which- Figure 1 is a top view of the machine; Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in section;

At all other Fig. 3 is a detail view of certain of the operating cams; Fig. 4: is a detail view of the mechanism for feeding the carrier for the mesh. step-by-step; Fig. 5 is a detail view of a portion of the mechanisn'i shown in Fig. 4; Figs. 6, 7, S, 9 and 10 are detailfi views showing different positions of certain of the operating parts when adding a cruciform link; Figs. 11 and 12 are views of the strips of connected links; Figs. 13 and 1 1 are views of the links out from the stripsi shown in Figs. 11 and 12; and Fig. 15 is a view of a piece of the mesh made on the machine.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indlcates a table, upon which most of the operating r rings 9 and a plurality of parallel rows of links 10 which are of cruciform shape. Each link 10 has its ends curled inwardly, so'that each end embraces a ring 9. The formation of this fabric is such that depressions extending-both lengthwise and crosswise of the fabric appear upon both the in ner and outer surfaces of the fabric, and itis With these lengthwise and crosswise depressions on the interior surface of the fabric that the axial and circumferential ridges 7 upon the roller 6 coact. These ridges take into the depressions upon the fabric 8, so that the roller 6 takes firm hold upon the fabric 8 and positions it accurately :with respect to the devices employed for making new links and adding them to the fabric.

On one end of the roller 6 is secured a ratchet-wheel 11. This wheel is engaged "and operated by a pawl 12 held in engage ment with the ratchet by a spring 13. Pawl 12 is pivotally mounted upon an arm 1%, which is secured toone end of the rock-shaft The outer end of the arm 1% is connected by a rod 15 with a similar arm 14: at the opposite end of roller 6, which is also rigidly secured to rock-shaft -Two rods 16 depend from the ends of the rod 15 and these which may be termed a universal bar.

rods carrya horizontally disposed bar 17 This bar 17 moves laterally with the roller 6, but it is at all times in coaction with an arm 18 pivotally mounted upon the frame of the machine ati 19 and having its outer end ioverlyin'g the bar 17. The rod 18 does not partake of the'lateral movement of the bar 17 but'at any time when it is depressed by mechanism hereinafter described, it will depress: bar 17 'and'thus cause the pawl 12 to turn the roller 6 about rock-shaft 5 a distance equal to one step of the ratchet 11.

The slide 3 has rack-teeth formed on the under surface thereof, and a gear-wheel 20 meshes with these teeth. This gear-wheel is secured upon a shaft 21, which is mounted insuitable bearings on the frame of the .machineand is rotated step-by-step by mechanism hereinafter described.

Secured to the standards 4: or some other portion *ofthe slide 3, are arms 22, which support two guide-members 28 and 2a. Tliese guides are vertically disposed side by side with a narrow space between them, so that theedge of the piece of mesh on the roller 6 will lie between these guide-mem- \vardly from these guide-members and then around the roller 6, the finished mesh passing from the roller over a suitable guide, as 18 lndicated. The two guide-members 23 and 24 move laterally with the roller 6 and the slot between them is in a plane tangential to it. The edge of the piece of fabric projects below the lower edge of the guide 24 just far enough to permit of readily meshing new links with the links of the fabric along this edge. After a row of links has been added at this edge of the fabric, the roller 6 is given one step movement, thereby moving the piece of fabric upwardly between the guide members 23 and 24 a distance equivalent to the width of one row of links. The ridges on the faces of the guide-members 23 and 2% take into the depressions upon the fabric, so as to preclude appreciable lateral movement of the piece .of mesh relatively to the guide-members and 24. V

The power-shaft of the machine is shown at 25, this being arranged to be driven in any suitable manner. A second shaft 26 is mounted in suitable bearings parallel to the shaft 25, and is driven from the-shaft 25 by means of a cross-shaft 27. This shaft 27 is driven from shaft 25 by bevel-gears 28, and it drives the shaft 26 by means of the worm and worm-gear 29. The speed of the shaft 26 relatively to that of shaft 25 is determined by the width ofthe piece of fabric to be made on the machine. The lateral step-by-step movement of the slide 3 and the parts carried thereby is effected from the shaft 25, and the step by-step rotational movement of roller 6 is effected from the shaft 26. In the present instance, the shaft 26 makes one revolution for each complete forward and backward movement of the slide 3. If the piece of fabric to be made upon the machine has sixty'of the cruciform links 10 in each transverse row, the slide 3 must be given sixty step-by-step movements in each direction, one step movement for each rotation of shaft 25, and shaft 26 would be arranged to make one revolution for each one hundred and twenty revolutions of shaft 25. During this one revolution of shaft 26, it would actuate the pawland-ra-tchetfor efiecting rotational move ment of roller 6 twice; that is, after the sixty links for one row of the mesh had been added, and again after the sixty links for the next row. For this purpose, the shaft 26 has a cam 30 secured thereon, provided with two cam projections, as shown in Fig. 2, which projections are adapted to engage and operate the lever 1.8.

The step-loy-step movement of the shaft :31 to effect the lateral movement of the carriage is caused by two ratchet-wheels 81 and 32. securely fastened upon shaft 21 and ha ving the teeth thereof oppositely arranged. Pawls 33 and 3st are adapted to actuate these ratchct-wheels 3i and 32 respectively, these pawls being turned in opposite directions. as shown in Fig. t, and each pawl being novided with a suitable spring 35. Each pawl is pivotally mounted upon the end of a rod 36 adapted to reciprocate in an opening in a frmne-mcmher 37. The opposite end of each rod so is adapted to ride upon a cam 38 secured upon the shaft 325. the rod being hcld in engagement with the cam by a spring .39.

Fig. 5 shows a cam-plate 4-0, which e:\' tends between the two pawls 33 and 3&1: and is adapted to be moved automatically in the direction of its length so as to determine which of the two pawls 33 and 3-} will cooperate with its ratchet-wheel. This 'amplate 40 provided with two cam surfaces ail. and t2, the former cooperating with the pawl 34: and the latter cooperating with the pawl 33. The plate -10 is movable in the direction of its length to any one of three positions. in the position in which it is shown at and 5, the cam surface tl allows pawl 34L to engage the teeth of ratchet 32, and the cam surface 42 holds the pawl 33 out of coaction with the teeth of ratchet 31. if the cam-plate 40 were moved in the direction of its length, so that the parts 43 of the cam surfaces would underlie the pawls 33 and 34, both ofthose pawls would prevented from coacting with their respective ratchet-wheels. If the cam-plate 40 were moved still farther in the direction of its length, it would raise the pawl 34 out of coaction with its ratchet and permit the pawl 23 to actuate its ratchet.

The cam-plate 4-0 has a pin or thereon, which entcrs a notch in the end of a lever to pivoted intermediate its ends and having at its lower end a roller which is adapted to ride upon the periphery of a cam 46 secured upon the shaft 26. The roller is held at all times in engagei'nent with the cam a; by a spring coiled about its pivot as shown in Fig. 9. The cam 1-6 has two portions of different radii, which are of slightly less length than semicircles on those radii. These two semicircular portions are connected at their ends by cam surfaces. each of which has a point of rest therein, as shown at $7. When the lever is in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2, it holds the cam-plate L0 in the position in which the latter is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. As the rotation of cam 46 progresses, the

roller on lever to first drops upon the surface l7, thereby moving the cam-plate 4-0 to a position in which the surfaces-1:3 are operative and both pawls 33 and 34 are held from actuating their ratchets. Immediately thereafter, the roller on lever t5 drops upon the semicircular portion of cam -'-l(5 which is of smaller radius. thus causing a further movement of cam-plate l-(l. lhc roller on lever 45 will remain upon the surface rt? during only one rcciprocatiml of the pawls -33 and 34-.

The manner in which the roller-carriagc for the mesh is moved step-by-step will be apparent from the forcgoing description of the construction. The carriage is moved step-hy-stcp in one direction a definite number of steps. as. for instance, sixty steps, one stop being made for each complete rotation of shaft 25. This step is effected by the cam :38 reciprocating pawl 2H: and thus turning shaft 21. After these sixty steps have been taken, the surface -l-7 comes under the roller on lever 4-5 so as to move the cam-plate 4-0 to a position for holdii'ig both pawls 33 and 34- out of engagement with their respective ratchets during one revolution of shaft 25, and at the same time a projection on cam 30 engages the projection on lever 18 so that during this one revolution of shaft 25 the shaft 21. makes no step movement but the lever 18 is actuated to cause rotation of roller 6 through one step. Immediately thereafter, the lever 45 is fi'u'ther shifted so as to bring the other pawl and ratchet into operation, and thereafter, the step-by-step movement of shaft 9.1 is continued, but in the opposite direction from the direction of its previous movement, so that the roll. -r-car riage is fed back step-by-step in the opposite direction.

During each interval of rest of the stepby-step movement of the mesh on the roller 6. one cruciform link and either one or two rings are added to the mesh. Each of these cruciforn'i links is added to the mesh by causing its end to curl around three rings of the mesh and one ring which has been positioned adjacent to the mesh, except the end CiHCl'fOl'il'] link of a row. whose ends are caused to curl around two rings of the mesh and two other rings positioned adjacent to the mesh.

The cruciform links are preferably fed to the operating mechanism of the machine in the form of a continuous strip. such as that shown in Fig. 12, cut to a configuration permitting of cutting off individual links of the proper shape therefrom. This strip 48 is wound upon a reel 49 mounted for rotation on the table 1 of the machine, and is fed from the reel through a guide 50. The guide 50 has an opening in the side thereof, through which the end of a feeding-finger 51 may enter, so as to engage the strip 48 and feed the same through the guide 50. This finger 51 is pivotally mounted upon the end of a bell-crank l ver 52 and is springactuated, as shown in Fig. l. The lever 52 is held by a spring in engagement with the end of a. rod 5i slidably mounted in suitable guides on the table of the machine and having its end adapted to coact with a cam 55 mounted on the power-shaft 25. 'VVhen this cam actuates rod 54, the lever 52 and feeding-finger 51 are turned so as to feed the strip 48 of connected cruciform links through the guide 50, so that the end of the strip is projected beyond the end of. the guide a distance equal to the length of one link of the strip. W hen the strip is fed forwarc in this way, its end is projected in front of a plunger This plunger has an opening therethrough, in which a die-rod 7 is adapted to reciprocate. The plunger 56 is guided by a housing 58 secured upon the table 1 and a pin which moves in a slot in the table. The plunger has an offset therein, as shown in Fig. 1, so that through the major portion of its length it is displaced from and parallel to the die-rod 57. The rear end of the displaced portion of the plunger 56 carries a roller which coacts with a cam 60 on the shaft 251. The die-rod 57 is similarly provided with a roller, which runs on the periphery of a cam 61 on shaft 25. Springs 62 hold these rollers in engagement with their respective cams.

The outer end of the plunger 56 is adapted to serve as a cutter for severing the end link from the strip the edge of plunger 56 coacts with theend of guide 50, through which the strip 48 passes. After the link has been severed, its ends are bent at right angles to the body portion thereof by the plunger 56 coacting with an anvil 63. This anvil is formed upon the end of an arm 6&- carried by a rod (35, .vhich rod reciprocates in guides 66 secured upon the table 1. A spring 67 coiled about rod holds one end of the rod always in engagement with a cam (38 on shaft The rod 65 has a pin 69 thereon,wl1ich moves in a slot 70 in the housing 66. This slot, as shown in big. 1, has a straight porti on and at the end thereof an inclined por tion. By reason of this provision, when rod 653 is reciprocated toward the right, as shown in Fig. 1, the anvil 63 will be moved away from the link at the end of strip 48 and toward the mesh on the roller 5, and thereafter the anvil will be raised out of the path of reciprocation of plunger 56, due to the rocking of rod 65 by the slot 70 coacting with the pin 69 on the rod.

' ln bending the ends of cruciform links to their final form, the plunger and die-rod 57 on one side of the end of the piece of mesh on roller 6 eoact with a die-member l locate on the opposite side of the edge of For this purpose,

the piece of mesh. This die-member 71 is integral with or secured to a rod 72 reciprocating in suitable supports on the under side of table 1. This rod is actuated by, a bell-crank lever 73 connected thereto at one end, pivotallymounted on the frame of the machine intermediate its ends, and having its other end provided with a roller Which rides upon the periphery of a cam 74 on shaft A spring 75 acts upon the lever 78 to hold this roller always in engagement with the cam.

The continuous strip of connected rings is shown at 76 in Fig. 11. In the present machine, two of these strips are employed and each of them is wound upon a reel 77 (F ig. 2), which is mounted for rotation upon the frame of the machine below table 1. A guide 78 is provided, corresponding to each reel '77 and supported in a vertical position. A feeding-finger T9 is provided for feeding the strip through each guide 78, these feeding-fingers being similar to the feeding-fur ger 51. These feeding-lingers are adapted to be engaged and operated by short rods 80, which reciprocate in a guide 81 depending from the under side of the table. vertically movable actuators 82v are provided in position to coact with the ends of the rods opposite the ends which engage the feeders, and either or both of these actuators may be engaged and moved by a crosshead 83 on the end of a rod 84 which is supported in a bearing 85 depending frointable 1. The end of rod 84: distant fromcrosshead is pivotally connected to a lever 86, whose upper end is pivotally connected to a rod 87 adapted to ride upon the periphery of a cam 88 (Fig. l).

The two actuators 82 are positioned by ators are pivotally connected. Each of the cams 89 and 90 has two portions, one of which is of greater radius than the other, the portion of greater radius being slightly less than a semicircle. Throughout nearly all of the rotation of shaft 26, one actuator will be held up and the'other down by the cams 89 and 90, as the tWo actuators are shown in Fig. 2. At such times, the cam 88 will reciprocate cross-head 83 once for each rotation of shaft 25 and the cross-head will operate through the actuator 82, which is then up, to operate the feeding-finger 79 corresponding thereto. After this has continued a predeterl'nined number of times, the cams 89 and 90 will arrive at a position allowing both actuators to be held up by Two their springs92, so that one revolution of raised position will be lowered, while the other one will be held in the raised position.

Referring 110w to Figs. 6 to 10, which illustrate the sequence of operations, Fig. 6 shows the plunger and die-rod in their most retracted positions, which positions they oc cupy when the strip l8 is fed forward. in this figure, the strip is shown as having been fed forward through the guide 50 a distance equal to the length of one link. The anvil 68 is shown on the side of the link opposite the plunger 56. The parts on the opposite sides of the link are separated by just enough space to permit the strip is to pass freely between them. This figure also shows the roller 6, on which the piece of mesh is supported, and the guide-members 23 and 2st which position the extreme edge of the mesh and which more laterally with the roller 6. The guide-member 2 is shown as depending below the edge of the guidemember 24. and having an opening therein through which the link-forming devices may pass when completing the formation of a link. With the parts in this position, the first movement that takes place is a movement of the plunger 56. As the plunger advances, it engages the end link of strip L8 and severs this link from the strip; but before the link is completely severed it is pressed into suiliciently hard contact with the end of anvil 63 to preclude the possibility of the link slipping downwardly. For the purpose of cutting off this link, the edge of plunger 56 and the end of guide 50 operate cutting tools. After the link has been severed, the continued movement of plunger 56 causes the four ends of the link to be folded over the end of anvil 63. thus bringing the parts to the position shown in Fig. 7. At this time. the end of plunger 56 projects beyond the end of die-rod 57 and the link lies within the plunger, as shown. The anvil 63, having completeu its function, is then withdrawn. This withdrawal of the anvil is effected by cam 68, which moves the rod 65 on which the anvil is carried axially, and as the rod is so moved it is turned on its axis suflicient to carry the anvil out of the path of movement of the plunger, as heretofore explained. This movement of the anvil may take place during a continuous movement of the die-rod and plunger, and if so, the movement of the anvil is eflected at substantially higher speed to insure that the anvil will be moved from en gagement with the link and out of the path of the plunger, so as not to interfere with the movement of the plunger.

Fig. 8 shows the parts in substantially the same position in which they are shown in Fig. 7, eXcept that the anvil 63 has been withdrawn from contact with the link and has been moved upwardly above the level of the plunger. It is to be noted that. Figs. 7

to inclusive are in section on a plane at right angles to the plane of the section of Fig. 6. The plunger and die-rod then move forwardly together, carrying the link with them until the link approaches the edge of the mesh positioned by the members 23 and :24, whereupon the die-rod 57 is moved forward a small amount independently of the plunger 56. This wauses the ends of the link to be projected beyond the end of the plunger 56, and these four ends of the link are inserted through three of the rings of the mesh and one ring supported upon the end of the strip 76. For purposes of illustration, assume that the operation of the machine being described will. add the cruciform link 93 of Fig. to the mesh. Three of the four ends of this link will be inserted through the rings 94, 95 and 96 of the previously formed mesh. The strip 98 will then be held in such position that its end link 97 will be in position for the fourth projection of the link 93 to pass through it. This ring 97 is shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, and in Fig. 6 the upper end of the guide 78 is shown, through which guide the strip 98 is fed so that the link 97 projects beyond the upper end of the guide. The forward movement of the cruciform link to the Fig. 9 position, therefore, causes the four ends of the link to be projected through four rings and at the same time the edge of the plunger coacts with the end of guide 78 so as to cut ring 97 from the end of the strip 98. As the plunger and die-rod more into the Fig. 9 position, the die-member 71 is moved by its cam 74 from the Fig. 8 to the Fig. 9 position, so that it passes through the opening in the guide-member 23 and comes up closely adjacent to the under side of the piece of fabric. As the die-member 71 reaches the end of this movement, the die-rod 57 moved forward, so that its end comes even with the end of the plunger 56. This expels the cruciform link from within the plunger and causes the ends of this link to engage curved surfaces upon the die-member Tl. so that these curved surfaces curl the.

ends of the link around to make these ends grasp the four rings through which they were projected. When these movements of the parts of the link-forming devices are completed. the enacting faces of the parts on opposite sides of the mesh are close together and the ends of the link are therefore curled around so far as to insure a strong interlock between the ends of the cruciform link and the four rings. The operation of adding two links to the mesh. one a cruciform'link and the other a ring, is thus complete and the parts of the link-forming tool are then retracted for a re uitition of the operation. The die-member T1 is retracted by its spring when permitted by its cam, and also the plunger and die-rod are retracted by their I directly below the link 93 but in the same.

springs. As the plunger and die-rod near their retracted positions, the anvil 68 is again moved around into its operative posi tion in coaction with the plunger. Also when the anvil reaches this position, a new cruciform link is fed between the anvil and plunger, and the strip of rings is fed upward a distance equal to the length of one ring.

In lhaking mesh of the particular character shown in Fig. 15, it is apparent that if only one strip 7 6 of rings were employed lateral movement of this strip would be nece sary when changing the direction of the movement of the carriage 3. It will also be apparent that each row of rings across the piece of mesh has one more link in it than the adjacent row of cruciform links. In order to adapt the machine for making mesh of this character, wherein the rows of rings will have the requisite number of rings in them and wherein lateral movement of a strip of rings is rendered unnecessaryfl provide two stirps of rings, such as the strip 76 and a similar strip 98. These two strips are side by side and are movable upwardly from reels, 77, which are side by side. When the piece of fabric shown in Fig. 15 is being moved step-by-step in the direction indicated by the arrow, the strip 98 is fed up automatically after each operation of the machine, and when the piece of fabric is being moved in the opposite direction the strip 7 6 is employed. 7

Assuming now that the cruciform link 93 is the link at the end of a row of cruciform links, after this link has been added the support for the mesh is moved so as to move this portion of the piece of mesh on the support vertically but not laterally. The next cruciform link of the fabric is to be added vertical line therewith. This new cruciform link must be meshed with the two rings 96 and 97, with which the link 93 is meshed,but this being the end cruciform link of a row, two new rings must be fed up to be engaged by it. At this one time, therefore, both strips 98 and 76 will be fed up vertically, so that the rings at their upper ends will be in position to be engaged by the newly added cruciform link. After this has been done, the support for the piece of mesh will be moved laterally, but not vertically, and therefore three rings of thefabric will be in position to be engaged by the cruciform link and only one new ring need be fed forward. This special movement of the strips of rings required for making this particular form of fabric is provided for by the cams 89 and 90, which position the actuators 89., which actuators determine whether or not the two feeders 79 for the strips 76 and 98 will be operated. Vhen the carriage is moved in one direction, only one feeder is operated. In the one operation of the machine immediately following the step of rotational movement of roller 6, both feeders 7 9 are actuated once. Thereafter, the carriage is moved step-by-step in the opposite direction, and during this step by-step movement only one feeder 79 is actuated, but this one is the one which was not actuated when the carriage was moving step-by-step in theopposite direction. It is to be noted in this connection that Fig. 15 does not show a condition of the parts of the fabric which exists at any particular instant in the oper ation of the machine, because of the manner in which the strips 7 6 and 98 are illustrated. This illustration is chosen merely to facilitate the description.

It will thus be seen that novel means for supporting and moving a piece of fabric and positioning the fabric accurately for the reception of new links are provided, this means including a roller adapted to be moved stepby-step in. one direction, then rotated on its axis one step, and then moved step-by-step in the opposite direction, the one step of rotational movement being unaccompanied by a step of lateral movement. Combined with this roller for supporting, the fabric, are guide-members mounted parallel to each other and spaced apart so as to form, a narrow slot in which the edge of the fabric on the roller lies, the members forming this slot being provided with ridges on their adjacent faces which coact with depressions in. the fabric, so that the fabric is held against lateral movement. The links to be added to the fabric are formed, and are meshed with links of the fabric during the periods of rest between the step-by-step movements of the fabric. In the form of machine shown, wherein the links are supplied by the movement of a continuous strip of connected. links, the strip for one set of links is fed toward the edge of the completed fabric, as in this way the strip of links does not interfere with the links already'added to the fabric when the lateral movement of the support for .the fabric is reversed. This arrangement of the feed of the strip of rings also simplifies the, construction of the machine, in that lateral movement of the strip to position it properly with respect to the links forming part of the mesh is unnecessary. It will also be noted that the construction is such that each line of links across the fabric is completed, although this requires that there be one more link in each row of rings than there is in each line of cruciform links.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A machine for making link mesh comprising the combination of a roller for supporting a piece of link mesh, meansfor rotating the roller step by step, two guidellO members mounted in parallel relation with a narrow space between them, which space is adapted to receive the edge of the piece of mesh on the roller, link-forming devices and means for operating said devices to form links and mesh them with the links at the edge of the piece of mesh on the roller projecting through narrow space between the two guide-members, substantially as set forth.

2. A machine for making link mesh comprising the combination of a roller for supporting a piece of link mesh, means for mov ing the roller laterally and rotationally step by step, two guidemembers movable laterally with the roller and mounted in parallel relation with a narrow space be tween them to receive the edge of the mesh on the roller, link-forming devices and means for operating said devices to form links and mesh them with the links of the piece of mesh on the roller, substantially as set forth.

3. A machine for making link mesh comprising the combination of a support for a piece of link mesh, means for moving the same to carry the piece of mesh laterally in a straight line step by step, means for m0v ing the support to carry the piece of mesh in the direction of its length step by step, parallel guide-members between which the edge of the piece of mesh on said support lies, means for feeding links successively to mesh on the support, link forming devices and means for automatically operating said devices to form links and mesh each of them with three links of the mesh on said support and one link fed to the mesh by said feeding means, substantially as set forth.

l. A machine for making link-mesh comprising the combination of a roller for supporting a piece of link-mesh, means for moving the roller laterally and rotationally step by step, two guide-members movable laterally with the roller and mounted in parallel relation with a narrow space between them to receive the edge of the mesh on the roller, said members having projections on the adjacent faces thereof to coact with the surfaces of the mesh, link-forming devices, and means for operating said devices to form links and mesh them with the links of the mesh on said roller, substantially as set forth.

5. A. machine for making link-mesh comprising the combination of a roller for supporting a piece of link-mesh, means for turn ing the same intermittently, two guide-members mounted parallel to the axis of the roller and spaced apart to provide a narrow space to receive the edge of the piece of mesh on the roller, said members having transverse ridges on their adjacent faces, link-forming devices, and means for open ating said devices to form links and mesh them with the links of the mesh on the roller, substantially as set forth.

(3. A machine for making link-mesh comprising the cmnbimition of a support fora piece of link-mesh, link-forming devices for forming links and adding them to the mesh on the ipport, and means for moving the support and devices relatively in a straight line comprising a shaft, two ratchet wheels thereon, a pawl for each ratchet, means for actuating said pawls at regular intervals, and automatic means for rendering first one and then the other of said pawls operative and the other one inoperative, substantially as set forth.

7. A machine for making link-mesh comprising the combination of a support for a piece of link-mesh, link-forming devices for forming links and adding them to the mesh on the support, and means for moving the support and devices relatively in a straight line comprising a shaft, two ratchet wheels thereon, a pawl for each ratchet. means for actuating said pawls at regular intervals, and automatic means for rendering one of said pawls operative and the second one inoperative, then rendering both of them inoperative and then rendering the second one operative and the first one inoperative, substantially as set forth.

8. A machine for making link-mesh comprising the combination of a support for a piece of link-mesh, means for moving the same to carry the piece of mesh laterally in a straight line step by step, means for moving the support to carry the piece of mesh in the direction of its length step by step. means for feeding links successively to the mesh. on said support. link-forming devices, and means for automatically operating said devices to form links and mesh each of them with three links of the mesh on said support and one link fed to said mesh by said feeding means, substantially as set forth.

9. A. machine for making link-mesh comprising the combination of a roller for supporting a piece of linlmnesh. means for rotating the roller step by step, means for moving the roller step by step in the direction of its axis, means for feeding links successively to the mesh on the roller. linkforming devices, and means for automatically operating said devices to form links and mesh each of them with three links of the mesh on said roller and one link fed to said mesh by said feeding means, substantially as set forth.

10. A machine for makinglink-mcsh comprising the combination of a support for a piece of link-mesh, means for moving the same to carry the piece of mesh laterally in a straight line step by step, means for moving the support to carry the piece of mesh in the direction of its length step by step, parallel guide-members between Which the edge of the piece of mesh on said support lies and which have projections on their adjacent faces coacting with the surfaces of the mesh, means for feeding links successively to the mesh on said support, linkforming devices, and means for automatically operating said devices to form links and mesh each of them With three links of the mesh on said support and one link fed to the mesh by said feeding means, substantially as set forth'.,

ll. machine for making link-mesh comprising the combination of a roller for .supporting a piece of link-mesh, means for rotating the roller step by step, means for moving the roller step by step in the direction of its axis, parallel guide-members be tween which the edge of the piece of mesh on the roller lies and which have projections on their adjacent faces coacting with the surfaces of the mesh, means for feeding links successively to the mesh on the roller, link-forming devices, and means for automatically operating said devices to form links and mesh each of them with three links of the mesh on said roller and one link fed to the mesh by said feeding means, substantially as set forth.

152. A machine for making link-mesh com-, prising the combination of a support for a piece of link-mesh, means for moving the same to carry the piece of mesh laterally in a straight line step by step, means for moving the support to carry the piece of mesh in the direction of its length stepby step, means for feeding links of one set to the mesh on the support, means for feeding links of a second set successively to the mesh on the support, and automatic devices for meshing each link of the second set so fed with a link of the first set and with a link of the mesh on the support, substantially as set forth.

13. A machine for making link-mesh com prising the combination of a roller for supporting a piece of link-mesh, means for retating the roller step by step, means for moving the roller step by step invthe direction of its axis, a feeder for feeding links of one set to the mesh on the roller, means for feeding links of a second set successively to the mesh on the roller, and automatic devices for meshing each link of the second set so fed with a link of the first set and with a link of themesh on the sup-.

port, substantially as set forth.

1%. A machlne for making link-mesh comprising the combination of a roller for supporting a piece of link-mesh, means for ro,

tating the roller step by step, means for moving the roller step by step in the direction of its axis, a feeder for feeding rings successively to the mesh on the roller, means for feeding links of cruciform shape successively to the mesh on the support, and automatic devices for causing each cruciform link so fed to interlock with a p lurality of rings of the mesh on the roller and a ring fed to the mesh by said'feeder, substantially as set forth.

15. A machine for making link-mesh comprising the combination of. a roller for supporting a piece of link-mesh, means for rotating the roller step by step, means for moving the roller step by step in the direc tion of its axis, parallel guide-members between which the edge of the piece of mesh on said support lies and which have projections on their adjacent faces coacting with the surfaces of the mesh, and devices operated automatically in the intervals of rest of said step by step movement for add- I ing two intermeshed links to the links of the piece of mesh on said roller, substan tially as set forth.

16. A machine for making link-mesh com- 17. A machine for making I link-mesh comprising the combination of a roller for supporting a piece of link-mesh, means for rotating the roller step by step, means for moving the roller step by step in the direction of its axis, a feeder forfeeding a continuous strip of integrally connectedlinks to the mesh on the roller, meansfor feeding a second strip of integrally connected'links step by step, and automatic devices for 38V? ering links from said last-named strip and meshing them with a link of the mesh on said roller and a link of said first-named strip, substantially as set forth.

18. A machine for making link-mesh comprising the combination of aroller for sl'ipporting a piece of link-mesh, means. for moving the roller step by step laterally in. one direction and in the oppositedirection, and means for rotating the roller one step unaccompanied by lateral movement of the roller when the step by step lateral movement in one direction has been completed, substantially as set forth.

19. A machine for making link-mesh comprising the combination of a support for a piece of link-mesh, link-forming devices, means for moving said support and said devices relatively step by step to present different points on the piece ofmesh to said devices to receive links, automatic means for operating said devices in the periods of rest of said step by step movement to add links to the piece of mesh in parallel rows, and means for adding extra links to the piece of mesh at the ends of the rows, substantially as set forth.

20. A machine for making link-mesh comprising the combination of a roller for supporting a piece of link-mesh, means for moving the same axially and rotationally step by step, link-forming devices, and means for operating said devices automatically to add links to the piece of mesh on the roller with said links arranged in transverse rows and alternate rows having each one more link than the other rows, substantially as set forth.

21. A machine for making link-mesh comprising the combination of a support for a piece of link-mesh, link-forming devices, means for moving said support and said devices relatively step by step to present different points on the piece of mesh to said devices to receive links, a feeder for feeding a continuous strip of integrally connected links toward the edge of the piece of fabric on said support with the strip lying in substantially the same plane as the portion of the piece of the fabric adjacent to said edge, and means for operating said devices intermittently for successively meshing a link with a plurality of links of the mesh on said support and the end link of said strip, substantially as set forth.

22. A machine for making link-mesh comprising the combination of a support for a piece of link-mesh, link-forming devices, means for moving said support and said devices relatively step by step to present different points on the piece of mesh to said devices to receive links, means for feeding two continuous strips of integrally connected links to the piece of mesh on said support, and means for operating said devices automatically to cause them to mesh links successively with a plurality of links of the mesh on said support and a link of one or the other of said strips, substantially as set forth.

23. A machine for making link-mesh comprising the combination of a support for a piece of link-mesh, link-forming devices, means for moving said support and said devices relatively step by step to present different points on the piece of mesh to said devices to receive links, means for feeding two continuous strips of integrally connected links to the mesh on said support, and means for operating said devices automatically to cause them to successively add links to the mesh on said support which links are meshed with the end link of one, the other and both of said strips in a prescribed order, substantially as set forth.

24. A machine for making link-mesh comprising the combination of a support for a. piece of link-mesh, link-forming devices, means for moving said support and said devices relatively step by step to present different points on the piece of mesh to said devices to receive links, means for feeding two continous strips of integrally connected links to the mesh on said support, and means for automatically operating said devices to successively mesh links with the links of the mesh on said support, each of said links being also meshed with the end link of one of said strips and certain of said links being also meshed with the end links of both of said strips, substantially as set forth.

25. A machine for making link-mesh comprising the combination of a support for a piece of link-mesh, link-forming devices, means for operating said devices to add links to the piece of mesh on said support, means for moving said support and said devices relatively step by step to cause the links added to the fabric to be arranged in rows, means for supporting two continuous strips of integrally connected links, and means for feeding said strips step by step toward the mesh on said support so that each link added to the mesh by said linkforming devices will be meshed with the end link of one of said strips and each link added to the mesh by said link-forming devices at the end of a row of such links will be meshed with the end links of both said strips, substantially as set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 9th day of October, 1913.

ALPHONSO C. PRATT.

Witnesses ADDISON H. HAZELTINE, EDITH DANIEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

